RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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It was one of the riskiest singles Dhruv Jurel would have taken in his Test career. Anxious to complete his second Test century — and first overseas hundred — after being stranded on 99 for 12 balls and made to wait by rain while on 95, Jurel punched the ball towards mid-off and sprinted for a single that just wasn’t on. The ball travelled quickly to the fielder after bouncing. But luck smiled on the 25-year-old batter. The fielder missed the direct hit and Jurel dived to complete the run and his century, which came off 171 balls and had the entire Indian dressing room applauding as they shared the tension. Mohammed Siraj celebrated wildly, giving Jurel a bear hug. Powered by Jurel’s composed and flawless unbeaten 115 off 177 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, and Rishabh Pant’s entertaining 63 off 89 balls, with six fours and two sixes, India declared at 503 for nine. Then, they reduced Sri Lanka to 8/2 on Day Two of the second and final Test in Colombo on Monday. The hosts were clearly unhappy about being asked to bat in fading light. Yashasvi Jaiswal pulled off a brilliant diving catch at gully to send back Lahiru Udara for one off Prasidh Krishna in the second over. In the third over, the hosts suffered another blow when nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya was trapped LBW for two by a fast, full delivery from Manav Suthar. Jayasuriya’s agitated reaction after being dismissed reflected Sri Lanka’s unhappiness at being asked to bat so late in the evening. Kamil Mishara was batting on five when stumps were drawn at 5:51pm after an extended session. Shubman Gill and Co. deserve credit for their bowlers’ early blows, as they did not leave the field even when the covers were being brought on because of the dark, wet conditions a few minutes earlier. With the hosts trailing by 495 runs, India are now in control of the Test. Jurel was involved in two vital partnerships, adding 112 for the seventh wicket with Pant, which lifted India from 307 for six, and 39 for the eighth with Manav Suthar. During his stand with Pant, Jurel played the ideal foil, reaching a patient fifty off 97 balls. Like Devdutt Padikkal, Jurel has enjoyed a breakout series. Having arrived in Sri Lanka without a fifty in eight innings and under pressure from Sarfaraz Khan for the No. 6 spot, he made a crucial 51 in the first Test and now has 173 runs in two Tests at 86.50. Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, struck his 21st Test half-century and became India’s leading run-scorer in World Test Championship history, surpassing Shubman Gill. Pant now has 2,948 runs in 42 WTC Tests, ahead of Gill’s 2,917. Earlier, India resumed on 300 for five and lost debutant Saransh Jain early for six.
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